The Flussbad

Largest Pool

A gripe leveled at many inner cities is the lack of recreation space. Well, German architect firm realities:united has come up with a way of providing a swimming pool big enough to accommodate all of Berlin’s residents while not damaging the environment or the architecture.

Its concept, the Flussbad, will take a 745-meter section of the River Spree in Berlin and convert it into the world’s biggest pool. But it isn’t a swimming pool in the tiled-floor-and-lanes sense -- that would be some rope to span the entire distance of the dog-legged structure.

Instead, architect Tim Edler factored in giant reed beds to help filter the water in the river to make it suitable for swimming. On the other side, a set of giant steps will allow passersby to jump right in from street level. (Edler has provided changing facilities for those who don’t really enjoy swimming fully clothed.)

The design recently won first prize at the Holcim Awards for sustainable construction projects, which will hopefully be all the convincing Berlin’s city planners need to turn this project into a reality.

Pictured here:A view of what the Flussbad could look like if given the go-ahead.